As a farm girl from Checotah, Okla., Carrie Underwood burst onto the scene and into America’s heart during the fourth season of American Idol in 2013.

With a voice like a cannon, Carrie left no doubt night after night who the next American Idol was going to be (sorry, Bo Bice, it wasn’t even close.) Even judge Simon Cowell predicted Carrie’s coronation early in the competition—and he’s never wrong.

“I learned so much on American Idol,” said Carrie to NCD. “I’m an observer, and I’m the kind of person who can sit back and take it all in and really learn from an experience like that. It all happened in such a short amount of time. We went from being nobodies to people recognizing us on the street.”

On May 13, Carrie will return to Idol to serve as a guest mentor to the five finalists: Gabby Barrett, Cade Foehner, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, Maddie Poppe and Michael J. Woodard. The finalists will perform tunes from Carrie’s songbook, following a special mentoring session with her during a surprise trip to Nashville. Carrie will also perform her new single, “Cry Pretty.”

American Idol airs on May 13 at 7 p.m. CT on ABC.